The Great Canadian Heritage Restoration Thread - Page 11

davidivivid · #**201** Posted **Dec 7, 2015, 7:06 PM**

One of my favourite restoration project in Quebec City was recently unveiled: the Maison de la Littérature de Québec. Part of this institution of litterature is housed in what used to be the Wesley Temple, a methodist church build in 1848. A new building covered in metallic gold mesh was also built right next to the church.

The House of literature houses a public library, a permanent exhibition on Quebec literature as well as writing cabinets, a comics workshop, a design studio, a writers' residence, etc. It also offers a varied program on Quebec's literary scene all year round. This kind of institution, though not as obvious as a museum, really strengthens the cultural foundation of a city.

This project really is a fantastic restauration example. In fact, Quebec's architects seem to have become experts in restaurating old churches based of the conversion of these churches into libraries, reception halls and even a circus school

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...1&postcount=64

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...&postcount=114

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...41&postcount=7

http://www.stekar.com/realisations/institutionnel

http://jplabrie.com/albums/corporate-corporatif/

Martin Mtl · #**202** Posted **Dec 7, 2015, 7:46 PM**

/\ Very nice!

davidivivid · #**203** Posted **Dec 9, 2015, 8:22 PM**

Ex Machina, a theater/opera/multimedia company founded by world renowned stage director Robert Lepage, has been working hard to build itself a new HQ in Quebec City for some time now. The first rendering of their proposal, which will integrate the old YMCA building built in 1879, has been published today.

Here's the building in 1890:

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/act...le-en-1890.php

Quote:

Le Diamant se dévoile

On sait enfin de quoi aura l'air le théâtre Le Diamant de place d'Youville. Les maquettes dévoilées mercredi montrent que la compagnie de Robert Lepage, Ex Machina, préservera la façade de l'ancien YMCA en y annexant une aile moderne faite de verre.

L'architecture du théâtre qui remplacera aussi le cabaret du Capitole a été confiée au consortium Coarchitecture/in situ/Jacques Plante architecte et BPR/Tetra Tech inc.

Le projet de théâtre de 600 places est évalué à 54 millions $ dont 30 millions $ du gouvernement du Québec. L'immeuble n'accueillera pas que du théâtre, mais aussi du cirque ou de l'opéra. «La commande était complexe. On avait une salle de spectacle multifonctionnelle qui devait aussi être placée avec des espaces bureaux, des commerces», a dit le metteur en scène et directeur artistique d'Ex Machina, Robert Lepage. «On a voulu un projet moderne, flamboyant, mais qui soit en harmonie avec nos voisins comme le Capitole. Bien qu'on voulait un signal fort, on voulait qu'il soit respectueux du patrimoine culturel déjà existant.»

Plus de détails à venir...

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/art...se-devoile.php

davidivivid · #**204** Posted **Dec 13, 2015, 9:33 PM**

Beautiful restoration project for the House of Justice of Montmagny, a small city of about 12 000 people, situated 45min north east of Quebec City.

Architects: ccm2 of Quebec City
Photographer: Stéphane Groleau

http://www.architectureduquebec.com/...y?rq=montmagny

esquire · #**205** Posted **Dec 13, 2015, 9:37 PM**

^ Stunning. An incredible heritage asset for such a small city.

White Pine · #**206** Posted **Dec 13, 2015, 10:51 PM**

That reminds me of the courthouse in Pembroke, ON. The old part looks almost exactly the same. Pembroke's addition won some kind of award.

davidivivid · #**207** Posted **Dec 15, 2015, 5:29 PM**

I have tremendous, tremendous respect for the following restoration project but before I go futher, a little history for context:

The Augustines sisters arrived in Quebec City from Dieppe in 1639 and they subsequently founded the Hotel-Dieu, the first hospital in North America, in 1644. The hospital and its adjacent monastery have stood on this site ever since. Nowadays, the hospital is made up of a collection of buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1698. The premises are home to one of the most important sets of heritage buldings in Old Quebec, because of its architecture, its surrounding wall and extensive garden, one of the few green spaces dating from the first decades of the colony.

The vocation and beauty of this heritage site already commands respect but what the Augustine Sisters recently decided to do with it deserves admiration. For obvious reasons, the number of Sisters has been declining steadily for the last few decades and with not enough young recruits to ensure the continuation of the Monastery as a uniquely religious institution, the Sisters had to think outside the box.

The Sisters, which over the years founded 12 monastery-hospitals throughout Quebec, consider their heritage to be of national interest. In order to ensure the preservation of their cultural heritage, the Sisters enthrusted their historical estate in a social utility trust with the population of Quebec as principal beneficiary. They also put in place a contingency fund to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Most of the archives and historical collections of their 12 monastery-hospitals were then rapatriated to their Old Quebec mother house, which has recently been transformed in a living place of memory. The vocation of the site is now multifold:

- It houses a museum with a collection of 40 000 objects, many dating bck to New France.
- Its archives center contains many very old documents and books accessible to all for research.
- The old dormitories were transformed into a wellness center offering a wide range of activities centered around a comtemporary global health approach.
- Finally, the monastery will continue its mission to assist the families of the patients staying at the hospital.

This project certainly isn't to most flashy one but it still is a favourite of mine.

Architects: ABCP
Photograph: Stéphane Groleau

http://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv....n#.VnA64ErNyUk

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http://www.abcparchitecture.com/proj...des-augustines

Hali87 · #**208** Posted **Dec 23, 2015, 4:10 AM**

Base of TD Tower by Hali87, on Flickr

Hali87 · #**209** Posted **Dec 23, 2015, 4:10 AM**

Pacific Building by Hali87, on Flickr

esquire · #**210** Posted **Dec 23, 2015, 3:23 PM**

Wow, Monastere des Augustines is spectacular. Quebec doesn't mess around when it comes to heritage restorations.

someone123 · #**211** Posted **Dec 23, 2015, 4:49 PM**

When the Pacific Building was first built it was a gem but it has declined a lot over the years. The terra cotta facade is somewhat rare in Halifax. Originally there was also a cornice and columns on the lower floor. I think the plywood storefronts are going to be redone, and the columns will be restored if they're still there, but I'm not sure what will happen with the cornice. A lot of buildings like this one have been stripped of their original detailing.

Another bit of trivia related to this building is that it used to have a gay bathhouse. Apparently it was established in the early 70's. There was a neon "Apollo" sign in one of the windows until around 2000 or so.

Dwils01 · #**212** Posted **Dec 26, 2015, 6:25 AM**

Mill Square redevelopment. The old St. Mary's Office Building and Machine Shop are complete and turned over to the Algoma Conservatory of Music. Just the Pulp Tower is left which will be used as a farmers market and a museum of science and nature.

Pictures by me.

kwoldtimer · #**213** Posted **Dec 26, 2015, 4:52 PM**

That is particularly attractive stone.

Andy6 · #**214** Posted **Dec 26, 2015, 5:29 PM**

Those are nice to see, Dwils01. I wouldn't have held out much hope for those buildings so it's great that their potential is being realized.

thomax · #**215** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 2:03 AM**

Restoration work on The Collins Hotel in Dundas was just completed. It was built in 1841.

Restored Collins Hotel - Dundas, Hamilton by Joe, on Flickr

Before:

source

J.OT13 · #**216** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 10:14 PM**

Charles Ogilvy Façade "replica/restoration" nearly completed at the Rideau Centre.

https://twitter.com/CFRideauCentre

1916

http://www.canada.com/news/ottawa/Ph...958/story.html

1940s

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2015/12/h...l?view=classic

Early 2000s

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/cit...W-PLN-0183.htm

matt602 · #**217** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 11:26 PM**

Interesting to see that they chopped the upper floor addition off to restore it back to it's 1916 look (aside from the glass addition). Nice building.

J.OT13 · #**218** Posted **Dec 31, 2015, 11:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

Interesting to see that they chopped the upper floor addition off to restore it back to it's 1916 look (aside from the glass addition). Nice building.

Actually, it was a complete demolition.

The original 1908 building was 5 bays on Rideau and 6 bays on Nicholas. The 1916 expansion added 7 bays on Nicholas. Subsequent expansions in 1931 and 1934 added the 4th and 5th floors. In the 50s, they replaced the 1908 peers with flat brick and removed the medallion for a more streamlined, modern look. A few other additions were added west of the old building.

In the 80s, Ogilvy was bought up by Robinsons, which eventually went bankrupt in the 90s. The Rideau Centre owners of the time bought the property and demolished the post-war expansions of Ogilvy for a parking lot.

They had applied for complete demolition of the original 5 storey building, however, the City rejected the application, rightfully arguing the structure heritage. Somehow, the City eventually gave the green light for demolition, as long as a replica of the original 1908 store was included in the expansion of the Rideau.

The result is the heritage wall we see today, which is mounted on a brand new expansion of the Rideau Centre. They saved the 1908 windows, the 1916 bricks, some of the detailing (mix of 1908 and 1916, depending on how damaged the originals were). The cornice, medallion and stone peers on the first floor are all newly created replicas of the original.